India’s APEDA has rolled out the BHARATI program to fast-track agri-food and agri-tech startups into global markets, tapping into the sector’s strong export momentum.
Launched at the Indusfood 2026 expo in Greater Noida, BHARATI short for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement will mentor 195 selected startups. The top 10 will get prime spots at international trade platforms, APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev announced Thursday. “We will provide an opportunity to showcase their products globally,” Dev said on the sidelines of the three-day event organized by the Trade Promotion Council of India.
Exports under APEDA’s watch grew 7% to $18.6 billion in April-November 2025-26, building on $28.5 billion for fiscal 2024-25. Dev projects a record-breaking $30 billion-plus this year, eyeing $50 billion by 2030 for scheduled products.
The program, kickstarted in September 2025, focuses on innovation, export readiness, and category expertise. TPCI Chairman Mohit Singla highlighted the expo’s scale: over 2,200 exhibitors from 30 countries and 15,000 buyers from 120 nations. Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan inaugurated the event, underscoring India’s push as a food supply chain powerhouse amid global trade shifts.
This initiative positions Indian startups to capture rising demand for resilient agri-tech solutions.
